How cold is the boat ride to MK in January!

[whoppas]

Does it get to cold to ride the boats in the winter? If so is the alternative a bus to the WL and then a MK bus?

 

[becky1960]

It can sometimes can get cool in the morning, but you can ride inside the larger boats and a sweater should work. My wife is cold natured and thinks 70 is cold enough for a jacket and she always rides the boats.

 

[WDW1979]

Does it get to cold to ride the boats in the winter? If so is the alternative a bus to the WL and then a MK bus?

My family and I have stayed in the cabins at Fort Wilderness twice: once at the beginning of January and once at the end of January. Both times, it was very, very cold in the mornings, especially if you're out early enough for park opening. Every time we took the boat to Magic Kingdom in the morning we wore jackets, gloves and winter hats, and we needed them. This is even more so if you are heading to the Magic Kingdom for a before-the-park-opens breakfast at Crystal Palace or Cinderella Castle, because you likely will have to take the smaller, open-air boat to the Contemporary (the direct boat (which is enclosed) from Ft.W to MK does not start early enough for an 8:00am or even 8:30am breakfast reservation).

In any case, if you will be in Disney World in January and if you're going to be out very early for park openings, it would be best to pack jackets, gloves and winter hats for all.

Note that by 10 or 11 am we usually no longer needed our outer layers, as it does warm up nicely as the day goes on. In January, you can have days that feel cool even in the afternoon, and sometimes you get lucky and there are days when it's hot enough for little children to swim in the afternoon. So in January you almost have to pack for both winter and summer weather.

 

[lawnspecialties]

We went in January 2006. Sometimes we had to were a sweatshirt, but most of the time, I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt. And we were at the parks every morning at the openings.

You never know what you're gonna' get in Florida in January.

 

[Colson39]

Well, some of the coldest times in my life have been on that boat ride to the MK in the winter. Here are some tips:

1) As others above have said, it's kind of hit or miss. It could be in the low 70's in the morning, or it could be in the low 30's, there really is no way of guessing with Florida weather, as the cold comes and goes. Your best bet will be to check the weather starting about a week out from your trip up until your trip, and plan accordingly.

2) If you can get inside on the larger boats, do it. It will be much warmer, it's sealed, and you won't have any kind of wind in your face.

3) If you can't get inside on one of the larger boats, try to sit in the back compared to the front. You won't have the direct wind in your face, and you will be somewhat shielded.

4) If you're on one of the small boats, you're pretty much exposed no matter where you sit. However, the middle of the boat seems to be a bit less exposed than the front or back.

5) If you are sitting in an exposed area, the more you can sit on the inside part of the seat (closest to the walkway), the more shielded from the wind you will be. The outside edges will be the most exposed.

As I mentioned, some of my coldest times have been on that boat trip (although the coldest is normally coming back from the Contemporary after the sun has gone down, brrrrrrrrrrrrr). I'm a Florida native, so I probably get a colder than you northerners (but I can handle the heat just fine!! ), there have been quite a few times where I've had to wear multiple sweatshirts/jackets/etc... to stay warm, and sometimes it seems like the trip will never end....lol.

All in all, it's one of the things that's great about the Fort in winter, you'll have fun!

 

[kimluvswdw]

When we rode the boat at that time of the year it was chilly in the morning. Just ride on the inside of the boat and you will be fine. By mid morning the weather is warm.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I sit close to ftwildernessgirl - she keeps me warm.

 

[LarryJ]

I sit close to ftwildernessgirl - she keeps me warm.

Larry

 

[Colson39]

I sit close to ftwildernessgirl - she keeps me warm.

Well there goes people talking about us

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Well there goes people talking about us

Ah, let 'em talk.

 

[Tent Camping Mom]

Last March there was a huge cold spell. We took the boat back around midnight and it was a bit chilly but not as bad as the cart ride back to the campsite. It seemed so much colder for some reason...maybe the boat had enough hot bodies on it to warm us.

 

[KingTryton]

Last March there was a huge cold spell. We took the boat back around midnight and it was a bit chilly but not as bad as the cart ride back to the campsite. It seemed so much colder for some reason...maybe the boat had enough hot bodies on it to warm us.

Thermo-dynamics will tell you that water retains heat (temperature) better that the surrounding air. Hence the difference while riding the cart. Although the "hot" bodies idea could hold some merit, but I will need pics to prove that point!